Gas-compression module for a fuel cell

Abstract

A gas-compression module for use in a fuel cell system includes an air compressor, a motor and an intercooler. The air compressor has a pump chamber for compressing gas. The motor has a drive shaft for driving the air compressor. The intercooler cools the compressed gas exhausted from the air compressor. The air compressor includes a first rotor and a main rotary shaft connected to the drive shaft of the motor for driving the first rotor. The air compressor also includes a second rotor and a driven rotary shaft driven by power transmitted from the main rotary shaft for driving the second rotor. The motor and the intercooler exist in an imaginary plane passing through an axis of the main rotary shaft and an axis of the driven rotary shaft. The center of gravity of the intercooler is located closer to the driven rotary shaft than that of the motor.

1 . A gas-compression module for use in a fuel cell system comprising:
 an air compressor having a pump chamber for compressing gas;   a motor having a drive shaft for driving the air compressor;   an intercooler for cooling the compressed gas exhausted from the air compressor;   wherein the air compressor includes a first rotor accommodated in the pump chamber and a main rotary shaft connected to the drive shaft of the motor for driving the first rotor, the air compressor also including a second rotor accommodated in the pump chamber and a driven rotary shaft driven by power transmitted from the main rotary shaft for driving the second rotor, and   wherein the motor and the intercooler exist in an imaginary plane passing through an axis of the main rotary shaft and an axis of the driven rotary shaft, the center of gravity of the intercooler being located closer to the driven rotary shaft than that of the motor.   
   
   
       2 . The gas-compression module according to  claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity of the intercooler and the center of gravity of the motor substantially exist in the imaginary plane. 
   
   
       3 . The gas-compression module according to  claim 1 , wherein the intercooler is located on a casing of the motor. 
   
   
       4 . The gas-compression module according to  claim 1 , wherein the intercooler is spaced away from a casing of the motor. 
   
   
       5 . The gas-compression module according to  claim 1 , wherein the intercooler is located so that value of X/Y ranges in 100±10% of that of B/A where distance between the center of gravity of the air compressor and the center of gravity of the intercooler is A, distance between the center of gravity of the air compressor and the center of gravity of the motor is B, weight of the intercooler is X, and weight of the motor is Y. 
   
   
       6 . The gas-compression module according to  claim 1 , wherein the air compressor is of a roots type. 
   
   
       7 . A gas-compression module for use in a fuel cell system comprising:
 an air compressor having a pump chamber for compressing gas;   a motor having a drive shaft for driving the air compressor;   an intercooler for cooling the compressed gas exhausted from the air compressor;   wherein the air compressor includes a first rotor accommodated in the pump chamber and a main rotary shaft connected to the drive shaft of the motor for driving the first rotor, the air compressor also including a second rotor accommodated in the pump chamber and a driven rotary shaft driven by power transmitted from the main rotary shaft for driving the second rotor, and   wherein the intercooler is located radially outward of the pump chamber, the intercooler being located on the opposite side to the driven rotary shaft relative to the main rotary shaft.   
   
   
       8 . The gas-compression module according to  claim 7 , wherein the air compressor is of a roots type.